In a game delayed by rain for 55 minutes on a chilly, 52-degree Friday evening, Yordano Ventura pitched eight shutout innings for his second win, 5-0, over the Baltimore Orioles in the series opener at Camden Yards.

Matt Garza’s first win in a Brewers uniform came at the expense of the team that traded him away last season. Garza and the Brewers beat the Cubs, 5-2, on Friday at Miller Park with seven quality innings from the righty and 12 hits from an offense that is waking up at home.

The Mariners scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth to pull out a 6-5 victory over the Rangers on Friday as Seattle won its second straight at Safeco Field.

St. Louis opened a six-game homestand with the 1-0 win over Pittsburgh in front of 43,193 at Busch Stadium. It was the 11th time in 24 games that the Cardinals have scored fewer than three runs in a game but just the second time that was sufficient scoring to lift the team to a victory.

Justin Upton delighted the home crowd with another first-inning home run, and a suddenly stingy bullpen helped the Braves open a three-game series with Friday night’s 5-4 win over the Reds at Turner Field. The final out of the game was confirmed by instant replay.

Albert Pujols hit his 501st career homer, and it was one of eight runs and 11 hits the Angels accumulated in the first five innings, more than enough for C.J. Wilson in a 13-1 rout at Yankee Stadium on Friday night.

If Albert Pujols is not again the best, most feared offensive player in the game, he’s certainly in the conversation. He’s also one of the best things about this new baseball season. To see a guy who has worked so hard and who has struggled so much with injuries for two years, to see that guy rewarded is about as good as it gets.

The Red Sox battered left-hander Mark Buehrle, handing him his first loss of the season in an 8-1 series-opening victory over the Blue Jays in front of 29,411 at Rogers Centre on Friday night. Boston struck early and often, scoring a season high in runs and notching a season-high 16 hits to back Jake Peavy’s strong performance.

Slumping outfielder Curtis Granderson hit a walk-off single off Steve Cishek in the ninth inning Friday, giving the Mets their third straight victory, a 4-3 win over the Marlins at Citi Field.

Manny Machado moved into the next phase of his recovery with a flourish on Friday night. Beginning an assignment with Baltimore’s Class A Advanced affiliate, the Frederick Keys, Machado smacked two doubles and a triple in four plate appearances and came around to score two runs against Myrtle Beach.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper exited Friday’s game vs. the Padres with a jammed left thumb after a hard dive into third base.

Yoenis Cespedes remains day to day with a strained left hamstring, but the A’s say the injury is not serious enough to warrant a stint on the disabled list.

Pirates closer Jason Grilli has a strained left oblique muscle and will be placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, when the club is expected to recall Jared Hughes to take his place.

Mark Trumbo told the assembled media in the clubhouse on Friday afternoon that he expects to be out at least six weeks with what he described as a stress fracture of the metatarsal bone.

MLB showed its ability to adjust on the fly, acting Friday to ensure the transfer rule is interpreted as intended, on the field and in the replay center, and players and managers around the league were quick to voice their appreciation.

The Pirates placed closer Jason Grilli on the 15-day disabled list on Friday, retroactive to Monday, with a left oblique strain.

The Rangers activated third baseman Adrian Beltre from the 15-day disabled list Friday and placed third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Wednesday, with a herniated disc in his lower back.